KZN Metrorail services remains suspended due to storm

JOHANNESBURG - The KwaZulu-Natal Metrorail services would remain
suspended as the full extent of the damage to its infrastructure is being
assessed, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) said on Wednesday.

“Preliminary reports however
show that Metrorail will not be able to operate for at least four to five days
as Metrorail starts to implement its mop-up operations,” PRASA said in a
statement.

Metrorail services were
suspended in the province on Tuesday due to the bad weather.

The Metrorail technical team
has reported that a total of 17 train sets are stuck outside the operational
depots either outside the stations, on the platforms or in between
sections.

“The trains have no power or
rail tracks to move them. In addition, station roofs, fences, tracks,
electrical substations and signalling have been badly affected. In some
instances there is no ground supporting the rail tracks as the ground and steel
securing the rail tracks has been washed away,” PRASA said.

The extent of the damage and
the time it will take to fix the lines is yet to be determined, however, PRASA,
has, as part of its Modernisation Programme, started with the signalling
upgrades.

“PRASA was in the final
stages of completing the Pinetown to Durban
section which would see 24 kilometres of new rail signalling handed over to
Metrorail KwaZulu-Natal
to operate in December.

“Already, PRASA had
installed key equipment such as new LED signals, axel counters for train
movement, fiber optics for the train communication system to name a few,” PRASA
said.

A total of R1.3 billion will
be invested in signalling upgrades over a five year period in KwaZulu-Natal alone.

“All this work will have to
be re-done along with other extensive repair works on the entire rail
lines.

“In the meantime, Metrorail
KwaZulu-Natal remains unable to operate its trains without electricity as well
as huge safety concerns as some affected areas have live electrical wires and
unstable ground barely holding the rail tracks,” PRASA said.